Breaking all the small-space rules

24.10.2017

"I love living in small spaces," says Éléonore, "but I don’t believe in rules like having everything white and always putting function first." We visited her 35m2 apartment to find out how she makes it work.

“I have a layout that matches how I like to live; there’s space to work, space to rest and space to party.”

Inside Eléonore’s little nest

When it comes to city living, the question of limited space can’t be ignored. But do you always have to pick the most practical option if you love another one more? Éléonore says no! She believes whatever size your home, what matters is loving the things you live with, whether that’s a host of shoes (‘the ones on my ladder are the tip of the iceberg’) or pieces from grandma’s attic.

“My home doubles as an occasional office positioning my desk out from the wall defines my 'work zone'. The corner cabinet makes the perfect home for my collection of cameras.”

“I like my shelves to tell a story. I know white things make your space feel bigger but color makes me happy. So yes, my books are sorted by color and the boxes and magazine files I use to keep my paperwork in order are colored!”

“I don’t cook a lot so I don’t need to store much in my kitchen. I designed the space so I can prepare simple dishes, quickly – I like to leave the time free for other things.”

“I wanted my bedroom to feel like a cosy nook so I painted the walls plum. There isn’t room for a door but I fixed a track to the ceiling so I could put up a curtain for privacy. Space may be tight but the ceiling is high so I put shelves above the bed – out of the way, but great for storage!”

Ideas to try from Éléonore’s small space

“Chopping down the legs of the dining table made it the perfect height to eat at when you sit on the sofa. I use it day to day as a coffee table, but I can also extend the tabletop and create a dining table where my friends and I eat together.”

Express yourself with textiles.

"Cushion covers and throws are so easy to update that I can have fun with them without making a big commitment. They introduce so much character to a space.”

Try a low-maintenance indoor garden.

“I kill all my plants! I’m not good at taking care of them, but I still want that sense of outdoors. All my hanging pots hold fake plants, and cacti are tough so I don’t have to worry about them.”